Typographical composing machines



March 6, 1956 J. c. PLAsTARAs TYPGGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1950 W A ITTORNE Y March 6, 1956 J. c. PLASTARAS TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 18 1950 a: INVENTORI y/arro Mfrs,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 18, 1950 United States Patent TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINES James C. Plastaras, Lynbrook, N. Y., assignor to Merger:- thaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application October 18, 1950, Serial No. 190,734

Claims. (CI. 95-45) This invention relates to typographical composing and distributing machines, and particularly to photocomposing machines of the general type described in my copending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 184,038, filed September 9, 1950, now Patent No. 2,691,924, wherein circulating character bearing elements are selectively released from a magazine and assembled in line in the order in which their characters are to appear in print, the composed line transferred to a pair of relatively immovable vise jaws where the line is first justified and then photographed and, finally, the line elevated from the jaws and the character bearing elements distributed into their appropriate magazines for further use.

As explained in the above identified application, the machine is provided with a camera and lens system capable of selectively magnifying or reducing the resultant images ofthe characters to be photographed over a comparatively wide range, say for example, in about fourteen progressive steps from a 1/2 reduction ratio to a 3/ l magnification ratio. ages for composition in a wide variety of different point sizes from each character font in use.

In the machine under discussion, the line of character bearing elements is assembled to a predetermined length in the usual way in the assembler elevator against the line supporting finger of the yieldablc assembler slide and then transferred to the vise jaws, which must also be set to correspond with the length of the assembled line. Since the length of the line recorded on film is dependent both upon the length of the line assembled for composition and the particular ratio of magnification or reduction for which the camera and lens is set (it being understood that any enlargement or reduction of the character images for the purpose of changing the point size of the photographed characters will result in a proportional increase'or decrease in the length of the photographed line), the length of the assembled line, as well as the corresponding setting of the vise jaws, must be regulated in accordance with the particular magnification or reduction ratio chosen and the length of line desired to be reproduced on film.

Toward this end, the present invention provides a rotatable dial, having separate difierently graduated scales thereon for each available magnification or reduction ratio, adjustable for the desired length line to be produced on film,.and associated mechanism for'setting an assembler slide stop and the left-hand vise jaw simultaneously with the. adjustment of said dial. The assembler slide stop, in the present instance, is operable against the line supporting finger of the assembler slide and is provided with an upstanding pointer prominently visible within the confines of the assembler elevator, when the latter is at line receiving position, forindicating the maximum length of ingthe composition of a particular line serves as a measure of the amount that the unfilled line is short of full length.

Thus, it is possible to produce im- The present invention also provides means for releasing the assembler slide stop to permit the removal or substitution of character bearing elements from the assembler elevator without disturbing the setting of the dial or the vise jaws, and for reestablishing the connection of the stop with its proper setting with respect to the vise jaws and the dial.

Since the photocornposing machine, for which the present invention was specifically designed, makes use of the general operating principles of the Linotype machine, the present invention may be applied thereto with little or no change.

As applied to the standard Linotype machine, the pres entinvention ofi'ers improvements over mechanism heretofore proposed or in use. For example, formerly the assembler slide stop has been operable through a long horizontally disposed link extending across the front of the machine from the vice frame to the assembler slide. Since the setting mechanism is most conveniently mounted on the vise frame of the machine, when said frame was pivoted forwardly out of operative position, this entire overhanging arrangement had to be carried forwardly with it, interfering to some extent with the access to the machine. In the present invention, the overhanging arrangement has been eliminated and the assembler slide stop built into the machine and operated through a split shaft, permitting the vise frame to be pivoted forwardly independently thereof.

These and other improvements will appear from the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a partial front elevation of a Linotype machine with the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the new attachment;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the multi-scale dial device;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of the assembler slide stop;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the hand knob and spindle;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the supporting means for the multi-scale dial; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top view of the shaft coupling in Fig. 5.

The character heating elements are individually released from a magazine by the operation of a keyboard and transported by the assembler belt 2 to the assembler elevator 3 wherein they are individually assembled in line against thesupporting finger 4 of the assembler slide 5 by means of the revolving star wheel 6. The spacebands are separately stored in the magazine 7 and are released through a chute 8 by the operation of the keyboard and are also assembled in line in the assembler elevator 3 by the revolving star wheel. The assembler slide 5 is mounted to move freely to the left in the guide 9 against the restraint of a spring (not shown); its move ment to the right, however, is impeded by a brake (not shown). The assembler slide, as usual, is provided with a scale and with the adjustable block 10 carrying the set screw 11; when the set screw 11 strikes against the side of the guide 9 it serves as a stop for the forward motion of the assembler slide. The composition of the line, however, is generally completed somewhat short of this condition to allow for justification. After the line has been composed, the assembler elevator is raised to position the line between a left-hand finger (not shown) and a relativelyshort right-hand finger 12 of the line delivery carriage 13, which thereupon moves to the left and trans fers the composed line through the intermediate channel 14 into thev vertically moving transporter or first elevator 15 slidably mounted in the vise frame 16. Upon receiving the line, the first elevator immediately descends to position it between the left-hand jaw 17 and the right-hand 'posure is then made of the characters in the line.

jaw 18, whereupon the line is properly justified in front of a camera (not shown) and the characters illuminated by two fluorescent tube lamps 19. A photographic ex- After the exposure, the elevator is raised to a level above its normal line receiving position and the composed line then shifted therefrom by the operation of the finger of the transfer slide 21 into the upper transfer channel preparatory to the separation of the character bearing elements from the spacebands for delivery to their individual storage magazines. The first elevator 15 is then lowered and finally comes to a position of rest in its original or line receiving position just before the machine cycle is completed.

The Vise jaws 1'7 and 18 are supported in the vise frame 16 by the blocks 24 and 25, respectively, the block 24 being slidably disposed in said frame for the purpose of adjusting the left-hand jaw toward or from the righthand jaw for the accommodation of lines of different length. Such adjustment is effected by the rotation of a horizontally disposed rod 26 which is threadably connected to the block 24 but rotatable freely within the block 25 so as to have no effect on the right-hand jaw. The rotation of the rod 26 in either direction for the purpose of setting the jaw 17 is controlled by the opera tion of a hand wheel 22 through the shaft 27 and an arrangement of gears 28, 29 and 30, the gear 28 being mounted with the wheel 22 on the shaft 27, the gear 29 being an idler supported in suitable hearings in the housing 23, and the gear 30 being fixedly attached to the right-hand extremity of the rod 26.

Obviously the length of the line assembled in the elevator 3 should not exceed the length line for which the vise jaws are set and, preferably, it should be somewhat short of that setting to allow for justification. Hence, the above described operation of the hand wheel 22 is adapted to simultaneously position an assembler slide stop 31 in accordance with the setting of the vise jaws. The stop 31 is carried at the end of a rack bar 32 and is slidably mounted in a casting 14 attached to the lower portion of the delivery channel 14 (see Fig. 4). The teeth of the rack bar 32 mesh with a pinion 33 securely fastened to a short fore-and-aft shaft 34, also rotatably mounted in the casting 14 The forward end of the shaft 34 is provided with a collar 34 held to the shaft by a screw 34 As shown in Fig. 5, another shaft 35, in tandem with the shaft 34, is supported in a bearing 38 of the housing 23, and provided at its rearward end with a collar 35 and a key 35 adapted for insertion in a slot 34 of the collar 34*. The forward end of the shaft 35 is threaded to a screw 39, which in turn is splined to a knob 56 so that the knob can serve to rotate the shaft 35 and at the same time be shifted in an axial direction with respect to the shaft. The knob 50 is provided with a pair of beveled projections 50 adapted for engagement with a pair of corresponding slots in a collar 51 of a hollow shaft 51 and is normally held in engagement therewith by a tension spring 52 acting against an internal shoulder 50 of the knob. The shaft 51 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 35 and carries a worm gear 36 which can be driven by the operation of the hand wheel 22 through a worm 37 on the shaft 27. When the beveled projections 511 are engaged in the slots of the collar 51, as normally, a connection is established whereby the assembler slide stop 31 can be positioned by the operation of the hand wheel 22.

Preferably, the assembler slide stop 31, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is in the form of an upstanding finger or pointer, brightly colored, so that its setting can be clearly observed by the operator. As explained above, as the line is assembled in the elevator 3 against the supporting finger 4, the latter moves leftwardly toward the preset assembler slide stop 31, both clearly visible from the position of the operator, and their relative positions at any given time during the assembly of a line help him to judge when additional characters may be added and when to complete the line. When the line has been assembled to its maximum safe length, the line supporting finger will contact the stop (see Fig. 4) and prevent the assembly of any additional characters, a condition that will be at once apparent to the operator. Of course, if the operator prefers to use the customary stop 10 as his guide, he can still conveniently do so by first properly positioning the stop 31, then shifting the assembler slide to the left until the finger 4 engages the stop 31, and finally shifting the block 10 into contact with the guide 9. In this way, the block 10 is positioned on the slide 5 so that the distance between the set screw 11 and the guide 9 will always be the same as the distance between the finger 4 and the stop 31.

As heretofore stated and as explained in the above identified application, the camera and lens system can be selectively adjusted for magnification or reduction of the character images to be photographed for the purpose of changing their point size, and the length of the line photographed on film will depend not only on the particular degree of enlargement or reduction, but also on the length of the line assembled in the elevator 3. In order, therefore, to properly control the length of the line reproduced on film with a given magnification or reduction ratio in use, the length of the assembled line must be regulated, taking the degree of enlargement or reduction into account. Thus, for example, if a 12 pt. character font is in use and it is desired to reproduce characters of 24 pts. (i. e., a 2/1 magnification ratio) and lines of 30 ems length on the film, lines of 15 ems would be assembled in the elevator 3 and the vise jaws and line stop should be positioned accordingly. Although easily determinable in the above illustration, the length of the line to be assembled would not be so obvious when ratios of 7/ 4, 7/ 6, 5/6, 7/ l2 and the like are to be employed.

To facilitate the setting of the assembler slide stop and the vise jaws for the particular length of line which it is desired to reproduce on the film and for a given magnification or reduction ratio to be employed, a rotatable drum or dial 40, carrying a series of differently graduated scales around its periphery, is mounted on the vise frame 16 by means of a supporting bearing 41. A cover 42 is adapted to fit over the rotatable drum and may be secured to the bearing 41 or the vise frame in any suitable manner. The cover 42 (see Fig. 3) is provided with a glass window 43, having a hair line 46 ruled thereon, through which the scales of the drum are clearly visible, and the various magnification and reduction ratios for which the camera apparatus may be set are indicated along one of the vertical edges of the window to identify each of the scales appearing on the drum. As shown in Fig. 3, fourteen scales are carried on the drum for the following ratios: 3/1, 5/2, 2/1, 7/4, 3/2, 4/3, 7/6, l/l, 11/12, 5/6, 3/4, 2/3, 7/12, 1/2.

As shown in Fig. 6, the drum 41 is secured to a vertical rod 44 which extends through the bearing 41 and carries a worm gear 45 at its lower end adapted to mesh with a worm 47 (see Figs. 1 and 2) mounted near the left end of the shaft 27. It is apparent then that the operation of the hand wheel 22 not only positions the left-hand jaw 17 and the assembler slide stop 31, but also effects the corresponding rotation of the dial drum 40.

The operation of the device may now be described: When the camera apparatus has been preset to a particular predetermined ratio of magnification or reduction, the drum 40 may be rotated by the operation of the hand wheel 22 and the appropriate scale corresponding to that ratio adjusted with respect to the hair line 46 for the length line which it is desired to reproduce on film. Each of the scales is so graduated that, when the drum is set in the manner described above, the hand wheel also sets the assembler slide stop 31 to the proper line limiting position and adjusts the left-hand vise jaw 17 in accordance with the setting of the assembler slide stop. The periphery22 of the hand wheel 22 may be provided with escale for finer adjustments. Thus, if the scale corresponding to the 3/ l magnification ratio is set for 30 ems, the line stop 31 is set to limit the composition of the line to ems, since, of course, the line will be mag nified threefold. It should be evident that the length of eachbf the scales varies (with respect to the 1/1 ratio scale) inversely as the ratio to which it relates, e. g., the scale corresponding to the l/2 reduction ratio is twice the length of the l/l scale, while the 1/1 scale is three times the length of the 3/1 scale, etc.

As shown in Fig. 3, the scales may also be identified as;to,point size for the most used character font or the given character font in use. For example, if a font of 12 pt. characters is employed, the 3/1 magnification ratio would produce characters of 36 pts, on film.

Two features still require explanation. It has been stated that it occasionally becomes necessary to swing the entire vise frame 16 forwardly, out of operative position, to make various adjustments or repairs. In such cases, the vise frame, to which most of the mechanism herein described is mounted, moves with respect to the machine frame proper and, of course, the delivery channel 14, to which the assembler slide stop 31 is indirectly connected. Such swinging movement of the vise frame is-rendered possible because of the keyed connection between the shafts 34 and 35. As the vise frame is swung forwardly, the key 35 is removed from the slot 34, but-when the vise frame is swung back into operative position, the key 35 will re-enter the slot 34, it being noted that the key is beveled to facilitate such reentry.

It is alsosometimes desirable to release the line stop 31 to permit the removal or substitution of the character bearing elements from the assembler elevator 3 without disturbing the settings of the vise jaws or the dial. The present invention makes provision for permitting the movement of the line stop independently of the rotatable dial 40 and the vise jaw 17. This is accomplished by pulling the knob 50 forwardly, against the tension of the spring 52, to remove the key projections 50 from the slots of the collar 51 and thus disengaging the shaft 51 from the shaft 35. As stated above, the knob 50 is splined to the screw 39, and, hence, the rotation of the knob 50 in its forward position will permit the shifting of the line stop 31 without disturbing the settings of the dial drum 40 and the left-hand vise jaw 17. When the linestop is to be reconnected to the hand wheel 22, it can be roughly positioned with respect to the scale carried by-the assembler elevator and accurately set with respect to the drum 40 and left-hand jaw 17 by the reinsertionof the beveled projections 50 in the slots of the collar 51.

It should be evident at this point that the improved line setting mechanism may be readily applied to commercial Linotype machines without any changes being necessary, although but one scale correspondingv to the l/,1 ratio would be significant. The multi-scale dial 40 could, therefore, be replaced by a smaller single scale dial graduated in the same manner as the scale corresponding to the 1/1 ratio.

The present invention has been shown and described in preferred form and by way of example, but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typographical photocomposing machine wherein composed lines to be photographed can be selectively magnified or reduced in size in predetermined ratios, the combination of an assembler for receiving the individual character bearing elements to be composed, an assembler slide having a line resistant finger against which the elements are composed, an adjustable marker mounted in dependently of the assembler slide for indicating the actual length of the line to be composed, an adjustable scale also mounted independently of the assembler slide and calibrated for the selected magnification or reduction ratio, hand operated means for adjusting the scale in accordance with the length. of the line to be recorded on film, and means connected to and actuated by the hand operated means for adjusting the marker to indicate the proper length of the line to be composed.

2. A combination according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the marker serves as a stop to engage the assembler slide and limit the length of the composed line.

3. In a typographical photocomposing machine wherein the composed lines to be photographed can be selectively magnified or reduced in size in certain predetermined ratios, the combination of an assembler for receiving the individual character bearing elements to be composed, an assembler slidehaving a line resistant finger against which the elements are composed, an adjustable stop mounted independently of the assembler slide for limiting the length of the composed line, a rotary dial mounted in a fixed portion of the machine frame and graduated for a selected magnification or reduction ratio, hand operated means for rotatably adjusting the dial for the length of line desired to be photographed on film, and means connected to and actuated by said hand operated means for adjusting the stop with reference to the assembler slide to limit the length of the composed line to allow for the selected magnification or reduction thereof.

4. In a typographical photocomposing machine wherein the composed lines to be photographed can be selectively magnified or reduced in size in predetermined ratios, the combination. of a pair of vvise jaws between which the composed line is justified, one of said jaws being relatively fixed and the other. being capable of adjustment toward and from the fixed jaw to determine the length of the justified composed line, a rotary dial mounted in afixed portion of the machine frame and having a series of differently graduated scales thereon, all visible through a common Window, each scale corresponding to one of the available magnification and reduction ratios, hand operated means for rotating the dial to set a selected scale in accordance with the selected magnification or reduction ratio and the desired length of line to be photographed on. film, and means connected to and actuated bysaid hand operated means for adjusting the vise jaw to accommodate composed lines of the proper lengthto allow for the. magnification or reduction thereof.

5. In a typographical photocomposing machine whereinthe composed lines to be photographed can be selectively magnified or reduced in size in certain predetermined ratios, the combination of an assembler forreceiving the individual character bearing elements to be composed, an assembler slide having a line resistant finger against. which the elements are composed, an adjustable marker mounted independently of the assembler slide for indicating the length of the line to be composed, a rotary dial mounted in a fixed portion of the machine frame and having a series of differently graduated scales thereon, all visible through a common window, each scale corresponding to one of the available magnification and reduction ratios, hand operated means for rotating the dial to set a selected scale in accordance with the selected magnification or reduction ratio and the desired length of line to be photographed on film, and means connected to and actuated by said hand operated means for adjusting the marker to indicate the proper length of line to be composed to allow for the magnification or reduction thereof.

6. A combination according to claim 5 characterized by the fact that the marker serves as an assembler slide stop.

7. In a typographical photocomposing machine wherein the composed lines to be photographed can be selectively magnified or reduced in size in Certain predetermined ratios, the combination of an assembler for receiving the individual character bearing elements to be composed, an assembler slide having a line resistant finger against which the elements are composed, a pair of vise jaws between which the composed line is justified, one of said jaws being relatively fixed and the other being capable of adjustment toward and from the fixed jaw to determine the length of the justified composed line, an adjustable assembler slide stop mounted independently of the assembler slide, for limiting the length of the composed line, a rotary dial mounted in a fixed portion of the machine frame and having a series of diflerently graduated scales thereon, all visible through a common Window, each scale corresponding to one of the available magnification and reduction ratios, hand operated means for rotating the dial to set a selected scale in accordance with the selected magnification or reduction ratio and the desired length of line to be photographed on film, and means connected to and actuated by said hand operated means for adjusting the assembler slide stop to limit the composed line to a proper length to allow for the magnification or reduction thereof and for adjusting the vise jaw in accordance with the setting of the assembler slide stop.

8. In a typographical photocomposing machine wherein the composed lines to be photographed can be selectively magnified or reduced in size in predetermined ratios, the combination of an assembler for receiving the individual character bearing elements to be composed, an assembler slide having a line resistant finger against which the elements are composed, an adjustable stop mounted independently of the assembler slide for limiting the length of the composed line, an adjustable scale also mounted independently of the assembler slide and calibrated for the selected magnification or reduction ratio, an operating handle, a first train of connections between the handle and the scale for adjusting the latter in accordance with the length of the line to be recorded on film, and a second train of connections between the handle and the stop for adjusting the latter to limit the length of the composed line in accordance wih the length of the line to be recorded on film in the selected magnification or reduction ratio.

9. In a typographical photocomposing machine, wherein the composed lines to be photographed can be selectively magnified or reduced in size in certain predetermined ratios, the combination of an assembler for receiving the individual character bearing elements to be composed, an assembler slide having a line resistant finger against which the elements are composed, a pair of vise jaws between which the composed line is justified, one of said jaws being relatively fixed and the other being capable of adjustment toward and from the fixed jaw to determine the length of the justified composed line, an adjustable assembler slide stop mounted independently of the assembler slide, a dial graduated for the selected magnification or reduction ratio, an operating handle, a first train of connections between the handle and the dial for adjusting the latter in accordance with the length of the line to be photographed on film, a second train of connec- 8 tions between the handle and the stop for adjusting'the latter to limit the length of the composed line to allow for the magnification or reduction thereof, and a third train of connections between the handle and the vise jaw for adjustingthe latter in accordance with the setting of the assembler slide stop.

10. A combination according to claim 8, wherein the second train of connections between the handle and the stop includes two aligned shafts, and a detachable connection therebetween to permit the stop to be released from the operating handle without disturbing the setting of the scale. I

11. A combination according to claim 10, including a guide for reestablishing the connection between the two shafts and for accurately positioning the stop with respect to the setting of the scale.

12. A combination according to claim 8, wherein the second train of connections between the handle and the stop includes a turning knob which may be uncoupled from the operating handle while still coupled to the two shafts, thus permitting the adjustment of the stop independently of the scale.

13. A combination according to claim 12, including a guide carried by the turning knob for recoupling the latter tothe two shafts and for accurately positioning the stop with respect to the setting of the scale.

14. In a typographical composing machine having a vise frame pivoted to the main frame of the machine, the combination of an assembler for receiving the individual character bearing elements to be composed, an assembler slide having a line resistant finger against which the elements are composed, an adjustable stop located on the main frame and mounted independently of the assembler slide for limiting the length of the composed line, hand operated means for adjusting the assembler slide stop, said operating means being mounted on the vise frame, and a detachable connection between the stop and the hand operated means to perrnit the pivotal movements of the vise frame.

15. In a typographical composing machine having a vise frame pivoted to the main frame of the machine, the combination of an assembler for receiving the individual character bearing elements to be composed, an assembler slide having a line resistant finger against which the elements are composed, an adjustable stop located on the main frame and mounted independently of the assembler slide for limiting the length of the composed line, hand operated means for adjusting the assembler slide stop, and detachable keyed shafts connecting the hand operated means and the stop to permit the pivotal movements of the vise frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,178 Rapp Apr.'4, 1916 2,028,743 Fucik Jan. 28, 1936 2,042,041 Friedman et al. May 26, 1936 2,095,197 Rapp Oct. 5, 1937 2,426,146 Freund Aug. 19, 1947 2,552,882 Freund May 15, 1951 2,638,824 Freund May 19, 1953 

